Supported funnel



Nov. 7, 1939. J. R. CASNER SUPPORTED FUNNEL Filed Sept. 7, 1-957 22 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNETED STAKES PATENT OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to funnels for the direction of. fluid into barrels, kegs and similar containers and has for the primary object the provision of an eiiicient and inexpensive device of this character which will be self-supporting on a container either when the latter is positioned on end or lying on its side and which will direct fluid forward therein into the container by way of the bung hole in the side or end thereof.

With these. and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a self-supported funnel mounted on a container resting on its side.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevation illus trating the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral i indicates a body of a funnel having a comparatively large open end to permit fluid to be readily poured into the body. The bottom 2 of the body slopes to an outlet neck 3 formed on one side of the body so that the body may rapidly drain off fluid with the least amount of disturbance to the fluid. The discharge or outlet neck 3 has connected thereto a flexible tube t which may be either inserted in a bung hole 5 of a container 6 or placed in engagement with a spring clamp 'l and when in the latter-named position the free end of the tube will be disposed above the upper end of the body to prevent fluid from flowing out of the body.

A frame 3 is employed for supporting the body of the funnel and may form a permanent part of the latter. The frame includes an annular member 9 which encircles the body adjacent the open end thereof and integral with said annular member are vertically arranged members [0 connected together at their lower ends by members II. The lower members II are arcuately curved and cooperate in forming a rest or base, the curvature of which will conform to the contour of the container 6 so that the funnel will be supported without danger of falling. While the device has been shown as positioned on the container when resting on its side, it also may be placed on the end of the container when the latter is positioned upright or on one of its ends.

The frame 8 permits the discharge neck 3 of the body to be positioned beyond the end of the con tainer so that the flexible tube may be readily inserted in the bung hole or in the clamp l.

The body and frame may be constructed of any material suitable for the purpose, also the body may be of various shapes and the frame made to conform thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A funnel comprising a liquid receiving body shell having an open top and a closed bottom sloping downwardly from one side of the shell to the opposite side thereof, said shell being formed with an integral outlet nozzle extending laterally from its deepest side in substantially the same angular direction as the inclined bottom, an elongated fiexible delivery tube communicably attached at its inner end to said outlet nozzle, and

, a rigid open frame for supporting the funnel shell interchangeably upon the side or end of a barrel in the same vertical relation with the lowermost bottom portion of the shell at a considerable elevation above the barrel, said frame being within the vertical planes of the outermost side wall portions of the body shell but supporting the funnel to resist the overbalancing effect of the protruded outlet nozzle and delivery tube extension.

2. The herein described funnel structure comprising a rigid open supporting frame including an annular top member, four rectangularly arranged vertical corner legs rigidly secured at their upper ends to said annular top member and rigidly connected at their lower ends by transverse members curved conformably to the side contour of a barrel whereby the frame may be supported interchangeably cornerwise on either the side or end of the barrel, and a funnel body shell having an annularly beaded open top portion supported on the annular upper member of i said frame, the body shell depending within the frame and having a closed bottom sloping downwardly from one side of the shell to the opposite side thereof, the body being formed with an integral outlet nozzle extending laterallyfrom the deepest side thereof in substantially the same angular direction as the inclined bottom, the lowermost portion of the funnel body being at a considerable elevation above the side or end of the barrel on which the frame is placed, and an elongated flexible delivery tube attached communicably to the outlet nozzle of the funnel.

JOHN R. CASNER. 

